Born on this day – Leonard Rossiter:

Leonard Rossiter

Actor

Writer

October 21, 1926 – October 5, 1984

Credits:

2001: A Space Odyssey (1968); A Kind of Loving (1962); After Loch Lomond (1973); Alice in Wonderland (1985); Barry Lyndon (1975); BBC Play of the Month (1966); BBC2 Play of the Week (1978); Billy Liar (1963); Britannia Hospital (1982); Cinzano Bianco 'Shaken not Stirred' James Bond Parody Television Commercial (1978); Cluff (1965); Comedy Playhouse (1974); Deadfall (1968); Deadlier Than the Male (1967); Death Is a Good Living (1966); Diamonds for Breakfast (1968); Escape to the West (1982); Festival (1964); First Night (1963); Half Hour Story (1968); Hotel Paradiso (1966); House of Glass (1964); If There Weren't Any Blacks You'd Have to Invent Them (1974); Into the Net (1958); ITV Play of the Week (1963); ITV Playhouse (1967); ITV Saturday Night Theatre (1969); ITV Television Playhouse (1962); Jezebel ex UK (1963); King Rat (1965); Le Petomane (1979); Love Story (1964); Luther (1974); Machinegunner (1976); Masquerade (1974); Maupassant (1963); Oliver! (1968); On Stage – London (1957); Otley (1969); Out of Town Theatre (1967); Play for Today (1975); Redcap (1964); Rising Damp (1974); Rising Damp (1980); Steptoe and Son (1964); Story Conference (1956); Studio 4 (1962); Suspense (1963); The Avengers (1963); The Carnforth Practice (1974); The Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin (1976); The Funny Side of Christmas (1982); The Galton & Simpson Playhouse (1977); The Green Tie on the Little Yellow Dog (1983); The Life and Death of King John (1984); The Long Ships (1964); The Losers (1978); The Moon Over Soho (1985); The Nightwatchman's Stories (1959); The Perishers (1979); The Pink Panther Strikes Again (1976); The Revenue Men (1967); The Waterloo Bridge Handicap (1978); The Wednesday Play (1967); The Whisperers (1967); The Witches (1966); The Wrong Box (1966); Theatre 625 (1966); They All Died Laughing (1964); Thick as Thieves (1971); Thirty-Minute Theatre (1967); This Sporting Life (1963); Thursday Theatre (1965); Tripper's Day (1984); Voyage of the Damned (1976); Water (1985); You Can't Win (1961); Z Cars (1963).

On this day in movie and book history - 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)

2001: A Space Odyssey

directed by Stanley Kubrick,

written by Stanley Kubrick and Arthur C. Clarke,

based on the short story The Sentinel by Arthur C. Clarke,

was released in the United States on April 2, 1968.

Music by Aram Khachaturyan, György Ligeti, Johann Strauss and Richard Strauss.

Cast:

Keir Dullea, Gary Lockwood, William Sylvester, Daniel Richter, Leonard Rossiter, Margaret Tyzack, Robert Beatty, Sean Sullivan, Douglas Rain, Frank Miller, Edwina Carroll, Penny Brahms, Heather Downham, Alan Gifford, Ann Gillis, Chela Matthison, Vivian Kubrick, Kenneth Kendall.

Recommended reading:

2001: a Space Odyssey

by Arthur C. Clarke.

Published by Ace.

First published 1968.

Paperback.

ISBN-10: 0451452739

ISBN-13: 978-0451452733

Description:

The classic science fiction novel that captures and expands on the vision of Stanley Kubrick’s immortal film – and changed the way we look at the stars and ourselves.

From the savannas of Africa at the dawn of mankind to the rings of Saturn as man ventures to the outer rim of our solar system, 2001: A Space Odyssey is a journey unlike any other.

This allegory about humanity’s exploration of the universe – and the universe’s reaction to humanity – is a hallmark achievement in storytelling that follows the crew of the spacecraft Discovery as they embark on a mission to Saturn. Their vessel is controlled by HAL 9000, an artificially intelligent supercomputer capable of the highest level of cognitive functioning that rivals – and perhaps threatens – the human mind.

Grappling with space exploration, the perils of technology, and the limits of human power, 2001: A Space Odyssey continues to be an enduring classic of cinematic scope.

The Sentinel

by Arthur C. Clarke.

Masterworks of Science Fiction and Fantasy.

Published by Berkley.

Published 1986.

ISBN-10: 0425093891

ISBN-13: 978-0425093894

Description:

Arthur C. Clarke. The author of more than fifty books: with over 15 million copies in print, Arthur C. Clarke is one of the most distinguished figures in modern science and science fiction. He is the inventor of the concept of the communications satellite, a past Chairman of the Academy of Astronomics. His novel Rendezvous with Rama was the winner of science fiction’s three highest honors: the Hugo, Nebula and John W. Campbell awards. Arthur C. Clarke has covered the Apollo missions with Walter Cronkite and has lectured internationally on the peaceful exploration of space.

Here Arthur C. Clarke presents a magnificent collection of his finest work, spanning four decades. Included in this volume, along with revealing new introductions, are:

The Sentinel – The story that inspired 2001: A Space Odyssey.

Guardian Angel – The rarely-glimpsed work that gave birth to Childhood’s End.

The Songs of Distant Earth – A fantastic tale of first contact with an alien world, the basis for Clarke’s latest novel.